Boat-propeller.



Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT WORCESTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOAT-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,852, dated June 6, 1905. Application filed January 14, 1905. Serial 'Non 241,054.

T all whom t may concern.-

B'e it known that I, ALBERT WORCESTER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing 4at New York, in the county of New York and 4 State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boat-Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in boat-propellers especially adapted for use upon small crafts, such as row-boats, skiffs, and the like; and the object thereof is to provide a device by which a boat may be easily and speedily propelled while the occupants are facing the bow, which permits them to see the course they'are taking and also enables them to steer clear of other boats or objects, and thus avoiding accidents which often result by reason of the fact that the occupants and operator sit with their backs to the bow.

` of easy and ready attachment to boats now commonly in use.

With these brieiiy-stated objects in view my invention also comprises certain details of construction and novelties of combination and arran gement of parts, as will be fully described in the following specification and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a boatvprovided with my improvement.V Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective of one of the propellers, the operating-handlebeing omitted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section drawn through one of the supporting-brackets and hub, showing the manner in which the propelling-arm is supported. Eig. 4 is a detail sectional view drawn through the outer end of the arm on the line 4 A of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the paddles in the position they attainwhen the propellerblades are moved forwardly. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the outer end of the arm, showing the frame in which the paddles or blades are held; and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a plate which I may employ upon the side of the boat, to which the bracket may be secured for the purpose of permitting any adjustment of the propeller-arms and their supports.

In the practical application of my invention I employtwo brackets A, which are secured. upon the port and starboard sides oi' the craft nearest the bow. Each bracketA comprises a base A', from which project ears A2, having threaded openin gs to receive short stubboltsB, the inner ends of which are conical and 't in corresponding sockets formed in the ends of the hubs O, thus providing journals which permit of a free and easy' revoluble movement of the said hubs.

Projecting from each hub O is an arm O', the outer end of each of which terminates in an open rectangular-shaped frame C2, the depending members O3 of which are provided with two apertures which are arranged in a line to receive bolts D, upon which are supported the paddles or blades E. The apertures in the depending members of the trames are located near the top and approximately vin the center of the frame, so that the paddles or blades will hand downwardly and approximately cover the entire opening formed in the frame. These paddles have their upper ends enlarged and Jformed with a bore through which the bolts extend and by which they are supported in a pendulous position, and each blade or paddle is provided with a lug E', which may extend entirely across the paddle, if desired, and these lugs are designed to engage the frame to limit the upward movement of the blades when the arms and frames are pushed forwardly, and thus insuring against accidental displacement and holding the blades in position where they will be quickly forced downwardly when the arms and frames are drawn rearwardly to propel the boat. The lugs upon the upper blades engage the arms, and the lugs on the lower blades are adapted to engage a cross-bar O4, which extends across and connects the members O3 of each frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. An operating-bar F is connected to each arm at a point near its outer end, and the inner end of each is provided with a suitable grip E.

In practice I propose to provide a boat to IOO which my invention is adapted with laterallyextending brackets or arms G to receive and support the operating-rods when not in use. These brackets are preferably hinged or pivoted upon the stern of the boat to permit of them being folded when not in use.

In the practical application of my invention the base-plates are secured to the sides of the boats and the hubs journaled between the ears, so that the arms will be supported in practically a horizontal position, after which the handles are secured to the arms, and the device is then ready for use, the arms being long enough to extend nearly to the stern of the boat, in which the operator sits,and, of cou rse,facing` the bow. Now when the operator grasps the handles and moves them backwardly and forwardly,

similar to the movement when rowing, the horizontal arms carrying the blades or pades are swung upon their pivots in a semicircular direction, and it will be readily understood that when they are drawn rearwardly the blades are pendulous and completely cover the opening in the frame and striking against the water cause the boat to be propelled; but when the end of the stroke is reached and the arms are again pushed forwardly the paddles or blades will swing to practically a horizontal position and cause little or no resistance whatever, which of course permits of an easy operation, and in order to avoid any possibility of the blades being raised above a' certain point which would prevent them being thrown to a pendulous position I provide the lugs which engage the frame, as before'described.

Thus it will be seen that I provide an eX- ceedingly simple and easily-operated device capable of ready attachment to crafts now in use by which they may be easily and speedily propelled while the operator is facing the bow, which enables him to see exactly where the boat is going, and should it be desired to steer the boat one arm is moved and the other held in a stationary position, similar to the manner in which row-boats and the like are steered. Furthermore, by my arrangement the arms may be swung around against the sides of the boat, which permits it to pass through narrow places and also avoiding obstructions that may be in the way and the necessity of detachment avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bracket of a hub journaled thereto and having an arm projecting` therefrom, said arm having an open frame at its outer end, blades supported within the frame and overlapping each other, means for limiting the upward movement of the blades, and an operating-rod connected to the arm.

2. In adevice of the kind described, the combination with a bracket having ears provided with threaded openings, ofstub-bolts opel'- ated in the openings, a hub having sockets in its ends to receive the bolts, an arm extending from the hub and terminating in an open frame, bolts carried by the frame, blades pendulously supported upon the bolts, lugs formed upon the blades and adapted for engagement with the frame to limit the upward movement of the blades, and an operating-rod connected to the arm.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bracket having ears projecting therefrom, said ears having threaded apertures, stub-bolts operating through the apertures and having their inner ends conical in shapeA a hub journaled between the ears and having its ends provided with sockets to receive the inner ends of the bolts, an arm extending from the hub and having an open frame at its outer end, the depending members of the frame being provided with openings, bolts projecting through the openings and held within the frame, blades held in a pendulous position upon the bolts, said blades having lugs to engage the frame to limit the upward movement of the blades, and an operating-rod connected to the arm at one end and having its inner end provided with a grip, all substantially as specified.

ALBERT WORCESTER.

Witnesses:

M. D. BLONDEL, E. M. VENN. 

